2012...2013...

What a year it has been. I don't even know where to start! It seems that once you have children, time just passes by quickly. We have enjoyed every minute of watching Ellie grow. She is a true joy to Steve and I. We find ourselves looking at her saying how beautiful she is. That we couldn't imagine life without her. What was life like before her? Did we even think this was possible 4 years ago?

It seems like her 1st birthday came and went. I am so thankful we have many pictures and technology to capture every move she has made and every sound she has made. This year has really brought out a different part of me. Trying to adjust from it being just us 2 to 3. Putting life in a different perspective and realizing how much I LOVE my family. I couldn't imagine not having them both. God has blessed me with a wonderful family. Support from my parents and in laws and sisters always helps me out too!

I do not want to put out any resolutions for 2013 for I feel they would be broken in a day. I plan to just enjoy all of my family time, grow my business/dreams, keep my health in check, spend more time reading Gods word/books, maybe move to a different house and bring any debt to 0!!

I pray that everyone else reading this has a blessed evening and I wish you good health, happiness and Gods love into the new year! Remember that He is the reason we get to start 2013, He is where all blessing flow from. If you need me to ever pray for anything for you let me know!

**** HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!****

My favorites!!

Crazy/love

I have started reading another book this evening while Ellie went down to bed. It's called Crazy Love. This book is written by a man named Francis Chan. He is a pastor out in California. My oh my! I have read half of the book tonight already. It's been a different book where I am not taking pictures as much while I am reading to share those pages with others. I feel that this book is for my own spiritual journey with God. Almost making me step back and think...am I crazy for God? Am I humbled by His presence, At His word, Or Am I lukewarm? Here below is a page to read. If you go to the website it will give you a chapter preview and you can read a little more of his book.

Crazy love book. Check out the website, go click on the videos button. Inspirational man!

Reading up

Merry merry Christmas!!!!

Ellie had a great time this morning. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

Eve night

What a wonderful Christmas at The Bonos house:) The tree was filled with presents galore and the spirit was in the air as we sang Christmas carols. The clock was a present given to me from Kris! She spent many days working on this gift and I love it! It's already hanging on my wall in the bedroom:) Christmas pictures to come tomorrow ;)

Yearout Gals.

I love these ladies so much. Thanks for taking the picture Laura. I can see Mom and Dad in all 3 of us and I can also see a pretty penny with all of our teeth looking straight. Thanks Dad for all the hours you put out in your 3 jobs to raise and provide for your girls. We have you and Dr. Tate to thank for our pearly whites:)
I think Dad could print this out and be a new mantel picture of their girls.

Thanks for a wonderful dinner tonight, Mom and Dad. I can't wait to eat the left overs tomorrow for lunch, if Steve doesn't eat them tonight :) The presents you got Ellie were just precious and I can't wait for her to play with them tomorrow!! It's always so crazy and hectic when the kids open presents BUT this time I didn't even get to enjoy seeing their faces as they opened them up. I had a little one of my own that was so crazy and excited herself to open her presents. Ahhhhh the memories. Now I just feel as if this holiday is just flying by. S-L-O-W down pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. This is my favorite time of year.

Steve and I are not sure JUST yet what we will do to start our own Bono family traditions with Ellie but I am sure to capture the moments with my phone. Possibly a video or 2 on Christmas day :) Be sure to check back soon!!!

Bath time cuteness

Don't worry, the bath water is supposed to be that color. We put tablets in there to change the water for fun :) I just had to share the many faces of our police. I am sure you have seen many of them before, but I can't get enough of her...ever!

Ho ho ho

So I had to take a dress I ordered back to the post office for delivery. While I was at the one on Crystal Spring, Santa popped in to do some present delivering himself.
What a nice and jolly man he was ;) just brightened up my Christmas mood even more!!

Ellie had a great day back at Uma's house. She had a 2 hour nap;) Ellie didn't want me to leave at first. She got applied seeing me all last week. She adjusted well though.
I made a trip to Belk at Tanglewood to get a dress for Steve's Christmas party this weekend. The sun was blasting my face and I couldn't help but notice the detail in the sky. Lovely it was.
We are all on medicine and on the way to healthy land. I told Steve if we get sick again and very quickly after this round 2 of sickness, that I will have some one come over and fumigate the house.

Ahh off the saddle again.

Please don't think I have given up...just hit a bump in the road. Steve and I are sick AGAIN. IT'S BEEN 2 times since Thanksgiving we have gotten sick. I am on a steroid medicine, z pak and cough medicine. My throat is so swollen that I need a steroid to kick it. Guess it may kick my diet off this week as well. No working out till I can get better. I need all my energy that I have. Steve need to hit the doctor up tomorrow, so hopefully reading this he will make an appointment. ;)

Ellie is doing much better. She has a cough and runny nose but PRAISE GOD all her teeth are thru the skin. The teething part is almost done for now. No more runny noses and sleepless nights....until the next thing ;)

Even Steven

I had no gain not loss this week. I have to know that's OK! It's better than gaining. But what is weird to me, is that yesterday I was at a 2pd loss. I know Saturday weigh ins don't count but what happened to that 2 pd loss? Working out 4 times this week and keeping under my points. Oh well. The good side is: I have stayed with an eating program for a full 7 weeks and lost a total of 10pds. Not stopping this


train.

Also, Ellie is doing much better. She just has a crazy deep cough and sorta has a runny nose. Good news: she has 1 more tooth left to pop thru and she will be done for a little while. She just got her top 2 canines 2 days ago. They are so cute to look at:)

It's been about 5 days and I have had this thought on my mind still. When I caught myself singing the song: Where the spirit of The Lord is, there is FREEDOM (2 Cor. 3:17) I stopped in mid verse and said out loud "we need freedom in our nation". Gods spirit is in us, in each and every one of us. When we are a child of God we can rest in knowing that when we have Jesus in our hearts, we are free. I want freedom for all. For people to be free from addiction, bondage of some sorts, free from debt, free from sickness and on and on. For our world to know and believe, we can be free from anything. Because Jesus died for each of us, he paid for our freedom.

Jingle bell jam tonight at Just Dance. We danced for 90 minutes :) This is Jen, Warren McCormick's soon to be wife !;) She is a great, sweet person with adorable kids. I am so happy Warren snagged this one. She is a keeper!! Weigh in is on Sunday. We will see how this week went. My focus was not strong on my diet this week, I admit to a day of pizza and lunch one day from Arby's. eeeekkk.

Poor Ellie Boo

Ellie girl has been under the weather. Steve and I took her to the doctor today due to last nights ordeal. She was running a low grade fever for a few days. Which we thought was due to teething. Then last night she got super warm and Steve heard something upstairs. He could smell the vomit outside of the room. Poor baby girl had gotten sick about 6 times in her crib. She wasn't crying so you wouldn't have known. Daddy instinct kicked in;)

Doctor said she has a virus and the strep test came back negative. They are holding into the swabs for more bacteria testing. We should know something in the next day or so. We have been so fortunate to just NOW experience this. This is her first sickness and well...we are making it. Team Daddy and Mommy just loving on our baby girl. She ate about 5 saltine crackers today, a piece of pizza crust and lots of ice chips. We made sure to keep as much fluid as possible into her.

I had a dear sweet client send Dominos pizza to our house for lunch. She was such a blessing to help us out today. We hope tomorrow will be better. Nana and Bopbop are coming to the rescue so we can get back to work. We will keep everyone updated ;)

Yaaa-Hoooooo

Thank God!!!! I lost 4pds this week. I have now met my mark. I am down 10pds from my starting weight from 6 weeks ago:) The next step is to set a goal of 10% of my new weight to be lost. I can do it, I can do it! Even during the holidays. I may have some gains but hopefully mostly losses. Keep on track friends and family. ;)

Bill is at it again! Here is the newest toy:)

I was embarrassed to report that in my 5th week I gained 2 pounds back! Stinking Thanksgiving yummy food. I did blow it but I also did not workout for 7 days due to being sick. The whole family has had the cold. These are not excuses but each week has a different result. This week it's on ;) I vow to lose those 2 plus a little more!

Steve and I have noticed HOW MUCH Ellie has been talking. These past few days we are seeing a new side to her. She is putting 3 or 4 words together and today just counted to 4, while at Uma's house. She will be 17 months old on December 8th. Doesn't this just seem UNREAL! We just had her 1st birthday. What!!!

She is getting older...time is flying

It's just an O-R-E-O cooookie kinda night.